During O'Nabigon's second season, another one filled with struggle in Mississauga, his goal production dropped to levels below those established during his rookie season.  Throughout his OHL career he established a reputation as both a tough no non-sense style of play along with a durable reputation where he played a minimum of 64 games in each of his four seasons in the OHL, including a full 68 game schedule during his last and overage season with the Rangers.

Nathan's third season, started as more of a disaster than anything else, only scoring a total of 3 points for a team which was finally emerging and counting on him for veteran leadership and perhaps more importantly scoring.  A suitable trade was found quickly as coach Peter DeBoer re-acquired a player which he had to sacrifice in order to acquire one more offensive star earlier in his career with the Plymouth Whalers.  The Rangers had to trade netminder: Matt Harpwood to pick up the big winger from Longlac in northern Ontario.

The trade with the Ice Dogs showed promise, but the big payoff was made while Rangers' scoring stars: Derek Roy and Gregory Campbell were away at the World Junior Championships in Halifax Nova Scotia.  O'Nabigon was paired with Michael Richards and Petr Kanko and the three created havoc, in a surprising run where the team was really projected to struggle, O'Nabigon strung together a pair of hattricks along with the Rangers first player of the week honors during the 2002-'03 season.  Nathan O'Nabigon had 10 goals during the 21 game playoff campaign including an extremely important overtime winner in game 2 of the OHL finals over the Ottawa 67's which tied the championship series at one win a piece.

This past September O'Nabigon along with defender: Andre Benoit attended the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie camp.  During his fourth and final OHL season he finished second in Rangers' goal scoring and led the entire team in playoff scoring scoring 5 points in 5 games and being named the Rangers' playoff MVP as well as the team's top overager.

O'Nabigon's home on the ice is directly infront of the opposition's net.  He has really good hands for tipping point shots as well as the strength to remain infront of netminders creating screens.  Both Nathan and Thomas Harrison are from northern Ontario and in one instance when O'Nabigon was still in an Ice Dogs uniform, they fought in Mississauga.